Natural Beauty

Where you can, try to buy organic so you eliminate the negative influence of toxins and chemicals that will promote the damage casued by free radicals leading to premature ageing and disease

They say beauty is only skin deep. Well actually it’s much deeper than that. Flicking through a popular magazine at a friend’s house I couldn’t believe the beauty section; ‘Miracle’ creams, scrubs, masks and moisturizer all promising to defy the ageing process for half of your monthly salary.

They’re marketing is amazing and it obviously works as girls flock in their thousands to the Mother Ship; Boots! Happily, women around the world live off soup for next 2 weeks in order to compensate for their latest ‘investment’ that they will undoubtedly hide from their husbands come hell or high water.

What amazes me the most is that these super creams use the natural ingredients to promote their un natural products. ‘Contains vitamin E’. In stead of paying £40 for a little tub of gloop that ‘contains’ vitamin E, why not buy the natural source for a 10th of the price?

Ageing is a natural process that is dictated, not by time, but by what we do and don’t put in, on and around our bodies both physically and mentally. Ageing can be the result of stress and a toxic laden system or by the absence of essential fatty acids and sleep.

You can buy the most expensive miracle product of the century but if you ignore the basics of your lifestyle you are not going to be naturally radiant. Here are some easy, natural and AFFORDABLE tips for accessible, natural beauty.

What to put AROUND your body:

Organic-where you can buy natural cleaning products. Your skin soaks up the chemicals used in house hold products

Fast every now and again. Eat within an 8 hour window. Example: Eat form 10am -6pm and then do not put anything in your body until 10am the next day. This 16 hour period qualifies as an overnight fast that will give your body the chance to used reserved fats stores, rejuvenate cells and generally have clear out of toxins as well as increasing energy and speeding up the metabolism

AVOID

Smoking

Heavy pollution

What to put ON your body:

Natural oils-Avocado, almond, coconut and olive oil. Experiment and find the one that works best for you. I mix avocado oil with Orange essential oil on my body and face for an uplifting and lasting aroma.

Rose water for hydration and cleansing (great for travel and hot days)

Coconut and avocado oil mixed with Jojoba oil as an overnight hair mask

Beeswax or another natural lip balm

Coconut oil also acts as a natural deodorant and sun protection. However I only use coconut oil as a deodorant in cold weather

Tea tree oil and Witch hazel to calm break outs skin irritation

Make a homemade face mask out of anything naturally good for your skin such as oats, avocados, lemon, ground coffee and sugar

Body brush every day for 2 minutes. This sheds dead skin cells and increases blood circulation (particularly great for tackling cellulite)

Use old coffee grinds on your skin. Simply mix with coconut oil and an essential oil of your choice (optional) and rub on your body in the shower. Sheds dead skin cells and promotes circulation whilst the coconut oil moisturises.

Sun! Contradictory to popular belief it is GOOD for you to get 20 minutes of sun a day WITHOUT protection. From then on using protection is good. If you can let your tummy, in particular, see the sun as often as possible to promote Vitamin D absorption

AVOID: Your skin is your biggest organ. it absorbs the environment around it. If you can only afford one thing organic, then make it your choice of body oil or moisturizer!

Mental do’s and don’ts:

DO

Smile! Frowning creates more wrinkles

Exercise regularly for detox, immune system and most of all endorphins!

Relax; a bath, essential oils, read, write, paint, walk

Get 8 hours of sleep a day. It is when we sleep that our body repairs and regenerates

Breath and stretch to oxygenate your cells

Eat less food of a higher nutritious quality…if your body is constantly digesting it will take a toll on your organs such as liver and kidneys will result in premature ageing